The long-serving managing director of a communications and logistics company is to step down before the end of the year, 42 years after joining the business.

Paul Markland will leave Orbital Marketing Services Group next month having joined the firm at its inception as BP Travel Trade Services in Folkestone in 1972.

The 63-year-old became managing director in 1989, overseeing the firm’s relocation to Ashford in 1991 and masterminded the formation of Orbital Marketing Services Group, the firm’s parent company, in 2001.

Since then he has overseen a series of acquisitions, including Sittingbourne-based MacDonald Mailing in 2003, JR Digital in 2004 and Maidstone-based Magazine Mailing in 2006.

Orbital Marketing Services Group was then bought up itself by Menzies Distribution in November 2012.

Mr Markland said: “I’ll be 64 next year so the time has come to slow down a bit.

“I’ve got a great team at Orbital and I’ll be sad to leave them and company behind at the end of December but it is time to enjoy some less-pressured days and new challenges whilst I still can...” - Paul Markland

“I’m proud of having been part of broadening BP Travel Marketing Services into the successful Orbital Marketing Services Group.

“I’ve got a great team at Orbital and I’ll be sad to leave them and company behind at the end of December but it is time to enjoy some less-pressured days and new challenges whilst I still can.”

Mr Markland will be succeeded by Robert Fallow, 55, who has operated at board level in sales, marketing and general management for FTSE 100 and privately-owned companies.

He is managing director of out-of-hours pet care company Vets Now and has worked for Reebok, Orange and Franklin Electronic Publishers.

Mr Markland, who lives near Ashford, plans to spend some of his retirement traveling with his wife Sue.